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National Secular Society

secularism.org.uk

Challenging Religious Privilege

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Your daily media briefing - Thursday 24 December

  

In the Media is our daily collection of news and commentary related to secularism, available delivered to your inbox. You can also read the latest news and opinion and listen to our podcasts on our website.

Our media round-up will be back in January. We wish all our readers a happy, healthy and restful Christmas period.

*= Registration may be required to read the article.

  

Secularism in the media

 

Government promises churches will remain open in tier 4

The health secretary has said that churches in Tier 4 areas will stay open, and disclosed that he has given a personal assurance to the archbishop of Canterbury.

The Times*

 

School in Ireland discriminated against Catholic girl by favouring Church of Ireland students

A multi-denominational secondary school discriminated against a Catholic school girl on religious grounds by favouring for admission Church of Ireland students from a local primary school.

The Independent (Ireland)

 

'We're going to save lives': aid groups look to end of Trump's 'global gag rule'

Joe Biden's election as US president raises hopes for funding of reproductive health groups – but some caution that reversing the impact of a rule introduced by the Trump administration will not be quick.

The Guardian

 

‘Is the CCP guilty of crimes against humanity?’

The religion, education, culture and language of China's ethnic minorities are being forcibly constrained and changed.

Standpoint

 

‘There really was a war on Christmas, Mr. President. It was waged by Christians’

Puritans hated the 25 December observance of Jesus' birth so much that they made it illegal in the Massachusetts colony for decades in the 1600s.

The Washington Post*

 

Nuns in German children’s home rented boys to abusers

Nuns running a children's home in Germany prostituted boys in their care to priests, local politicians and businessmen in the 1960s and 1970s, according to a victim who has won a court fight for compensation.

The Times*

  

From the NSS: seasonal message and end-of-year podcast

 

All I want for Christmas is freedom of and from religion

Opponents often erect a straw man of secularism to justify demands for religious privilege. But freedom of religion must come with freedom from religion, says Stephen Evans.

 

Ep 41: Year in review

In the final episode of 2020, Emma Park is joined by members of the NSS team to look back at an unusual year of campaigning and activities.

  

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